News
RedR responds to increasing security need in Darfur
18 June 2009
In the first 4 months of 2009, the situation facing aid workers in the Darfur region of Sudan deteriorated dramatically. In response to demands from aid agencies operating in the region, RedR last month piloted a new Dealing with Kidnapping / Abduction course, aimed specifically at the aid workers most at risk – those travelling to remote and isolated areas, distributing aid to the affected population.
The 1-day course helps aid workers understand the risks and challenges associated with transporting aid and travelling to field sites by road, as well as providing practical advice on how to deal with situations such as abductions and car-jackings.
So far 2 courses have been run and have been well-received by participants, and 10 agencies have requested additional courses. It is envisaged that 9 Dealing with Kidnapping/Abduction courses will be delivered in different Darfur locations over the next 6 months. In response to the growing demand, RedR has also re-launched a personal Field Travel Safety course, and demand for bespoke Safety and Security training is steadily increasing.
The escalating safety risks faced by aid workers further adds to what is already an extremely challenging and volatile environment. Darfur is well-know as one of the 3 most insecure working environments for aid workers in the world.
At the start of the year, the humanitarian operation in Darfur was the largest in the world, with more than 16,000 aid workers responsible for delivering aid to the 4.5 million people affected by the protracted conflict. The number of aid workers in Darfur has almost halved in recent months and although the situation is being addressed, a gap still remains in providing food, water, sanitation and shelter to the hundreds of thousands living in the camps.
In addition to its training courses, RedR’s Staff Welfare and Critical Incident Peer Support Network has also been active, providing staff welfare support to aid workers, enabling them to deal with the stress of working in such a hostile environment. There are plans to expand this support network further into other parts of Darfur. With the need for security is increasing, it is up to organisations like RedR to continue doing what they can to support the humanitarian workers on the ground.
ENDS
For further information about RedR's training programmes in Sudan, please contact Kristine Jensen on either
+44 (0)20 7840 6019 or on kristine.jensen@redr.org.uk
For media enquiries, please contact Eva Modvig on either +44 (0)20 7840 6012 or on eva.modvig@redr.org.uk
View RedR Member and Shelter Expert Joseph Ashmore speaking on Channel 4 News about the Haiti quake.
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